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Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) - Introduce yourself and meet others
Let's talk about living with rheumatoid arthritis.
As moderator of the Autoimmune Diseases group, I noticed that several people were talking about RA, but those conversations were scattered throughout the community. I thought I would start this discussion to bring us all together in one place.
Let’s grab a cup of tea, or beverage of choice, and let's chat. Why not start by introducing yourself?
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HugInterested in more discussions like this? Go to the Autoimmune Diseases Support Group.
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PFIZER COVID-19 Vaccine and Rheumatoid Arthritis Onset (2021 through 2025)
Any evidence so far linking COVID-19 Vaccine and Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) ? In March/2021 I started the PFIZER COVID-19 vaccine followed by boosters in June/2021, December/2021, June/2022 and November/2022. No unusual side effects, but in May/2022 I developed increasingly acute inflammatory pain in shoulders, neck and hips. Various visits to Emerg with shoulder and neck ultrasound and CT scans through the end of 2022 were inconclusive.
In May/2023, I was formally diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and began different immunosuppressive medication plans, starting with Predisone and Alendronate, then Leflunomide, then Methotrextate (MTX) , then Actemra with no Leflunomide. Actemra was eventually successful in managing the inflammatory pain but with nasty side-effects, especially wooziness and balance issues.
In September/2024, the medication plan discontinued Actemra, leaving only Folic Acid and weekly MTX injections. Minor Inflammatory pain returned but was manageable with extra strength Tylenol and after 4 months, the wooziness and balance issues essentially disappeared. My rheumatologist expects to reduce the MTX dosage by 50% starting in September/2025 and MTX discontinuance at some future point.